Indicating device for guns



(No Model.) 7 '2 SheetsSheet 1. H. ELBE. INDIOATING DEVICE FOR GUNS.

Patented Jun 14 1892.

afizoruey (No Model.) 2 Sheets--Sheet 2;

H. ELBE. INDIOATING DEVICE FOR GUNS.

No. 477,187. Patented June 14, 1892.

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.jjiiforney.

UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

ELBE, OF NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF OIIE-I'I'ALF 'lO FRANCISE. GRICE; OF, VASIIING'ION, DISTRICT .OF COLUMBIA.

INDICATING DEVICE FOR GUNS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 477,187, dated June 14,189% Application filed September 24, 1890. Serial No. 385.970. (Nomodehl To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY ELBE, a citizen of the United States, residingat Niagara Falls, in the county of Niagara and State of to produce adevice to indicate when a gun or cannon has been raised or depressed tothe -.proper angle it is desired to fire the shot.

To overcome these difii'culties is the object of my invention, and toproduce a self-adjusting gun-sight by which when the proper degree ofelevation of the gun has been ascertained and determined and when oncetrained to the required angle a successive number of projectiles can bethrown to the point of destination; also, to accomplish this at night orwhen the object to be fired at is not visible. Al'lOiShGl' object is todispense withthe ordinary sight now in use on guns, and when theinstrument is once properly attabbed and adjusted to a gun that theprojectiles can be thrown at night as well as (lay-time at a fort orvessel, and so that a channel can be covered at all times to prevent anenemy entering it; furthermore, to facilitate the firing of theprojectile so that any ordinary man or seaman can attend to the firingof the guns without the necessity of skilled and trained gunners, and,finally to produce an instrument that is very simple in construction,not liable to get out of order, and can be produced at a very reasonablecost.

' The invention consists in the construction of certain details andcombination of parts, as will be more fully described hereinafter, andspecifically pointed out in the claims, reforence'bcing had to theaccompanying draw- .ings and the letters of reference thereon.

Like letters indicate similar parts in the figures of the drawings, inwhich-- Figure 1 is a side elevation 'of the instrument or gun-sightwith the cover removed.

Fig, 2 is a vertical section on line mm of 1. Fig. 3 is a top or planview of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a side and elevation of a' modification forrifles, muskets,&c. Fig. .5 is a side elevat on of a gun withcasemate-scction and having the instrument attached to the trunnion ofthe gun.

In the drawings, A, represents a cas ng of any suitable size andmaterial, which 18 first secured by a bolt passing through the-hole a tothe trunnion or other suitable part of a gun and then adjusted by aset-screw passing through the slot a. The cover'B of/ the casing isattached to it after the internal mechanism has been introduced bycountersunk screws 1). A pendulum 0, consisting of a rod having a hub c,is pivoted on knifeedges in the back of the casing and the cover 13, andprovided with a weight W, so as to hang perfectly perpendicular when inits normal position. At the upper end of said rod is arranged asegmental rack d, which meshes with a pinion e, sccured to a verticalshaft f, which has a center point hearing at its lower end and issupported in a lug g on the cover. This shaft passes through the top ofthe cover and has a pointer D secured on a square end thereof. To theupper end of the casing is secured the dial-plate E, upon which thedegrees are marked toany desired extent. In the rear part of the casingtwo posts 71 are placed, by which the movements of the pendulum arelimited.

The instrument is shown attached to a gun G, mounted to revolve on apivot II and a step I. It is arranged in a turret K and shield L of thelatest construction. secured to the end of the trunnion, and thedial-plate E and pointer D are arranged-to indicate the degrees ofinclination required.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4 an adjustable gun-sight isrepresented for rifles, muskets, and other portable firearms. It can besecured to the stock or other suitable place of the firearm, as desired.In this case the pointer E is secured inside of the casing to theverticalshaft and projectsthrough the sides of the casing. I Theoperation is as follows: The device boing attached in place on the gunwith the pendulum hanging perfectly perpendicular The casing A is.

and at right angles to the horizontal center of theguns, then as the gunis elevated at the mouth the pendulum will move the pointer to one ofthe divisions on the dial-plate E, and

said gun must then be elevated or depressed nngl the pointer comesopposite the line indlcatmg the angle it is desired to ohtaimjvh'en 1tcan be fired.

' Themany advantages of this instrument for its simplicity, accuracy';certainty of act on, and durability will be readily appremated by thoseskilled in the art. It is also well adapted for guns fired byelectricity and for other purposes.

Having thus described my invention, what 1. The combination of the shellA,'conta,in-'

mg the spindleC', providedwith a weight W.

and pivoted on knife-edges, said spindle having the segment r7 1neshingwith a pinion e,

presence of 'two witnesses.

HENRY 'Etmzj V v -mo.unted,on an auxiliary spindle f, and carrying.the'pointer D on the.outer face of a dial-plate E, having the graduationsota'cir cle on it, all as shown and specified.

;2-. The combination of the adjustable shell A, provided with thepivoted weight W, op- I crating by the segment (Z, and thepinion e ongun, and thus indicating the proper'angle for firing the gun, allconstructed and arranged as shown, and for the purpose setforth.

the silindlef, carrying the pointer-D and indieating the degreeson thedial-plate E, secured 'to the trunnion or other suitahle'part of the 30I In testimony whereof I affix my signature in \Vitnesses: I

C. L. BRAGDON, Jr. N

S113. .M URRAY.

